Nancy Smith

My fiance and I are taking our first trip to Africa and were thinking of Tanzania and Zanzibar. Does anyone have information about the safaris available in Tanzania? We get mixed information about Tanzania being terrible and others saying it is awsome. Thanks!

S. Robinson

My husband and I went on a two week safari to Tanzania and Kenya and had a wonderful time. We actually much preferred Tanzania to Kenya - it's less touristed and developed and the people are absolutely charming. I would without hesitation recommend the company that we stayed with while we in Tanzania. The company is called Mashado and I believe is headquartered in Tanzania.

They are a first class company with wonderful guides and accomodations. They also have a beach resort on the Tanzanian coast although we didn't stay there. They offer trips that give you a great overview of all the Tanzanian highlights.

If you go, please say hello to Jules and Richard - the hosts at the Kusini camp in the southern Serengeti - our favorite place we stayed on the whole trip.

Have fun!

skoelle

There are tons of tour companies in Tanzania. I'm using Thompson Safaris for my trip in June. I've also heard great things about Abercrombe & Kent and Micato. <BR> <BR>From what I've heard, Tanzania is much less touristy than Kenya. While the accomodations and roads are quite as up-to-date as Kenya, they're still supposed to be pretty good. And the game is supposed to be better than Kenya. <BR> <BR>I'm going on the northern circuit-Serengetti, Ngoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Lake Natron. I fly in and out of Arusha. <BR> <BR>I've heard that the southern circuit-Tarangire, etc. is even less crowded and still has excellent game. <BR>

Bly

Nancy - we took a safari with a company called Hoopoe Tours based out of Arusha last March and had a great time. Hoopoe customized a tour for our group of 4. Tanzania was beautiful. We took a lodge tour through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. If you have a chance, stay at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge - the most spectacular lodging experience ever! e-mail me if you want more details. b <BR>

kristi

My husband and I honeymooned in Kenya. We went ALL over and spent about a month there. We went on safari in the Masai Mara (sp?) and it was wonderful. We were there in June. Be prepared to get out of the SUV and help push it out of the mud. Narobi, the capitol, is worth a visit. Don't be mislead by the "great bagains" outside the larger cities. If you are white skinned Africans assume you have lots of money. We bought some great stuff (wood carved chest sets for about 10$) at the markets in Narobi. We learned that you NEVER pay for what they ask. Usually half of what they ask is still too high. At times our guide felt we were being robbed for paying 25$ for a large wooden mask when a "fair cost" in his society was 15$. The 10$ difference was not enough to concern us and the people there are VERY poor. 7$ is a weeks salary for some. <BR>Mombassa (sp?) along the coast is something you do not want to miss. The beach is spectacular, the weather beautiful, costs for services very minimal and included beach side service. <BR>The African people as a whole were always smiling and couldn't do enough to make our visit grand. Keep in mind that their pace is MUCH slower. We got use to it and like them could not stop smiling. I can't wait to return.

April

Maybe people who want to always travel first class wouldn't care for Tanzania, but it also makes it less touristy. Zanzibar is wonderful and makes for a nice change after a mainland safari. Good choice, I'd say. <BR>